Relaciones geográficas were a series of elaborate questionnaires distributed to the lands of King Philip II of Spain in the Viceroyalty of New Spain in North America. They were done so, upon his command, from 1579–1585.[1] This was a direct response to the reforms imposed by the Ordenanzas, ordinances, of 1573.[2]
These questionnaires had upward of fifty questions that requested information on various aspects of the Spanish colonial life in each region or major town, in order to govern it more effectively. Thus, these questionnaires had more of an administrative and functional purpose as opposed to intellectual gain. These questionnaires are oftentimes considered the first statistical study of the New World, since they attempted to chart the lands, peoples, and trade routes.[3] The value of these questionnaires continues to grow over time due to these surveys being first-person information.[4]
Purposeedit
These extensive questionnaires have provided incredibly rich information with regard to 16th century ethnic groups in Mesoamerica. These questionnaires included questions regarding politics, taxes paid, the natural environment and resources, population history, settlement patterns, the language, markets and trade, native history and customs, maps, and the progress of the missionary work program.[5] These maps were created by indigenous people, sailors, local officials, and other individuals in New Spain.[6] Some of them that were requested were often commissioned by artists and have now been linked to the Casta paintings[7] of the period.
Resultedit
These surveys were reported back to Spain's King Phillip II and allowed the Spanish monarchy to have better control over the people and the politics in New Spain. However, not all major cities and regions are accounted for because not all local officials returned the questionnaire or perhaps their response did not survive. Along with this, since all people were allowed to send in a map it showed the bias of each social class and represented common issues of the time.[8] Nevertheless, this scientific process of data collection and statistics essentially built a bridge between two continents.
Acuña, René. Relaciones geográficas del siglo XVI. Mexico City: UNAM 1982.
Cline, Howard F., "The Relaciones Geográficas of the Spanish Indies, 1577-1586." Hispanic American Historical Review 44, (1964) 341–374.
Cline, H.F. "A Census of the Relaciones Geográficas, 1579-1612." Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 12: 324-69. Austin: University of Texas Press 1972.
Cline, H.F. "The Relaciónes Geográficas of the Spanish Indies, 1577-1648." Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 12: 183-242. Austin: University of Texas Press 1972.
Cline H.F. "The Relaciones Geográficas of Spain, New Spain, and the Spanish Indies: An Annotated Bibliography." Handbook of Middle American Indians vol. 12, 370-95. Austin: University of Texas Press 1972.
Isaac, Barry L. "Witnesses to Demographic Catastrophe: Indigenous Testimony in the Relaciones Geográficas of 1577-86." Ethnohistory 62 (nno. 2 (2015): 309-31.
Mundy, Barbara E., The Mapping of New Spain: Indigenous Cartography and the Maps of the Relaciones Geográficas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1996.
Referencesedit
^Cline, Howard (August 1964). The Hispanic American Historical Review. pp. 341–374.
^Diaz, Lily. "Introduction to the Relaciones Geográficas de Indias". Retrieved 29 September 2013.
^Harris, W (2003). Mesoamerican Cultures: Relaciones Geográficas. The Oxford Encyclopaedia, Or, Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and General Literature: Bristol: Thoemmes.
^Diaz, Lily. "Introduction to the Relaciones Geográficas De Indias". Retrieved 29 Sep 2013.
^"Pre-Columbian Civilizations". Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
^Mundy, Barbara (1996). The Mapping of New Spain: Indigenous Cartography and the Maps of the Relaciones Geográficas. Chicago: Chicago University. pp. xviii-30.
^Katzew, Ilona (2004). . Casta Painting: Images of Race in Eighteenth-century Mexico. New Haven: Yale UP. p. 8.
^Mundy, Barbara (1996). The Mapping of New Spain: Indigenous Cartography and the Maps of the Relaciones Geográficas. Chicago: Chicago University. pp. xviii-30.
^Harris, W (2003). Mesoamerican Cultures: Relaciones Geográficas. The Oxford Encyclopaedia, Or, Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and General Literature: Bristol: Thoemmes.
January 01, 1970
lang, relaciones, geográficas, relaciones, geográficas, were, series, elaborate, questionnaires, distributed, lands, king, philip, spain, viceroyalty, spain, north, america, they, were, done, upon, command, from, 1579, 1585, this, direct, response, reforms, im. Relaciones geograficas were a series of elaborate questionnaires distributed to the lands of King Philip II of Spain in the Viceroyalty of New Spain in North America They were done so upon his command from 1579 1585 1 This was a direct response to the reforms imposed by the Ordenanzas ordinances of 1573 2 Contents 1 Format 2 Purpose 3 Result 4 See also 5 Further reading 6 ReferencesFormat editThese questionnaires had upward of fifty questions that requested information on various aspects of the Spanish colonial life in each region or major town in order to govern it more effectively Thus these questionnaires had more of an administrative and functional purpose as opposed to intellectual gain These questionnaires are oftentimes considered the first statistical study of the New World since they attempted to chart the lands peoples and trade routes 3 The value of these questionnaires continues to grow over time due to these surveys being first person information 4 Purpose editThese extensive questionnaires have provided incredibly rich information with regard to 16th century ethnic groups in Mesoamerica These questionnaires included questions regarding politics taxes paid the natural environment and resources population history settlement patterns the language markets and trade native history and customs maps and the progress of the missionary work program 5 These maps were created by indigenous people sailors local officials and other individuals in New Spain 6 Some of them that were requested were often commissioned by artists and have now been linked to the Casta paintings 7 of the period Result editThese surveys were reported back to Spain s King Phillip II and allowed the Spanish monarchy to have better control over the people and the politics in New Spain However not all major cities and regions are accounted for because not all local officials returned the questionnaire or perhaps their response did not survive Along with this since all people were allowed to send in a map it showed the bias of each social class and represented common issues of the time 8 Nevertheless this scientific process of data collection and statistics essentially built a bridge between two continents Today many of the manuscript versions of these questionnaires are found in four different locations The General Archive of the Indies in Seville the Real Academia de la Historia in Madrid the Benson Library at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Glasgow Library 9 See also editCartography of Latin America Mesoamerican literature Category History of New SpainFurther reading editAcuna Rene Relaciones geograficas del siglo XVI Mexico City UNAM 1982 Cline Howard F The Relaciones Geograficas of the Spanish Indies 1577 1586 Hispanic American Historical Review 44 1964 341 374 Cline H F A Census of the Relaciones Geograficas 1579 1612 Handbook of Middle American Indians vol 12 324 69 Austin University of Texas Press 1972 Cline H F The Relaciones Geograficas of the Spanish Indies 1577 1648 Handbook of Middle American Indians vol 12 183 242 Austin University of Texas Press 1972 Cline H F The Relaciones Geograficas of Spain New Spain and the Spanish Indies An Annotated Bibliography Handbook of Middle American Indians vol 12 370 95 Austin University of Texas Press 1972 Isaac Barry L Witnesses to Demographic Catastrophe Indigenous Testimony in the Relaciones Geograficas of 1577 86 Ethnohistory 62 nno 2 2015 309 31 Mundy Barbara E The Mapping of New Spain Indigenous Cartography and the Maps of the Relaciones Geograficas Chicago University of Chicago Press 1996 References edit Cline Howard August 1964 The Hispanic American Historical Review pp 341 374 Diaz Lily Introduction to the Relaciones Geograficas de Indias Retrieved 29 September 2013 Harris W 2003 Mesoamerican Cultures Relaciones Geograficas The Oxford Encyclopaedia Or Dictionary of Arts Sciences and General Literature Bristol Thoemmes Diaz Lily Introduction to the Relaciones Geograficas De Indias Retrieved 29 Sep 2013 Pre Columbian Civilizations Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc Retrieved 6 June 2017 Mundy Barbara 1996 The Mapping of New Spain Indigenous Cartography and the Maps of the Relaciones Geograficas Chicago Chicago University pp xviii 30 Katzew Ilona 2004 Casta Painting Images of Race in Eighteenth century Mexico New Haven Yale UP p 8 Mundy Barbara 1996 The Mapping of New Spain Indigenous Cartography and the Maps of the Relaciones Geograficas Chicago Chicago University pp xviii 30 Harris W 2003 Mesoamerican Cultures Relaciones Geograficas The Oxford Encyclopaedia Or Dictionary of Arts Sciences and General Literature Bristol Thoemmes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Relaciones geograficas amp oldid 1217428178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
